Aim of the program

The Technische Universität Braunschweig (TU Braunschweig) and the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech) supports travel of scientists and administrative staff and reasonable other activities for the development of joint publications and the preparation of joint project proposals with scientists and administrative staff of both Universities within the framework of the program "Seed Funding TU Braunschweig/Taiwan Tech".

The cooperation with the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, which has existed since 2008, includes a long-standing student exchange as well as BMBF-funded joint research projects of the Institute of Particle Technology in the research area of batteries. Discussions between the executive board of TU Braunschweig and Taiwan Tech have shown that several other joint research topics and also transfer activities offer a basis for mutual strengthening of and cooperation between the two universities. These include in particular

• Car based mobility (e.g. autonomous driving)
• Sustainable and Energy Efficient Aviation
• Mobile Energy Storage
• Engineering for Health,
• Metrology/Quantum and Nanotechnology,
• Additive Manufacturing
• City of the Future.

Strengthening scientific collaboration in these and possibly other areas is of extraordinary strategic interest to both universities.

The aim of the seed funding program is to initiate joint research work that will result in joint publications and, in future, joint research proposals. In this way, the importance of this cooperation is to be strengthened, further anchored at the universities, and new disciplines and actors, especially also early career researchers (e.g. post docs) are to be won for collaboration.

Eligible actions

The universities finance the costs for the joint publication and preparatory proposal activities (in particular travel of their own outgoing scientists or administrative staff, consumables, and student assistants to support the projects). (Additional personnel and investments are not funded)

The maximum budget per University research group in the proposal should not exceed Euro 6,000 or NTD 200,000 respectively.

Disciplines

The program is open to all disciplines.

Eligible applicants

All scientists and administrative staff at TU Braunschweig and Taiwan Tech are eligible to apply.

Application process

Applications should be submitted electronically to Dr. Ute Kopka, Overseas Programs and Study Abroad Officer, and Ms. Kao, Kai-Hsin from Taiwan Tech with the subject TU Braunschweig/Taiwan Tech Seed Funding until 15^th. Nov. 2024 under the email address u.kopka@tu-braunschweig.de and kcc1031@mail.ntust.edu.tw as a pdf-document (max. 5 MB).

A complete joint application (max. 8 pages, see template) includes the following documents:

- Names and addresses of the applicants (TU Braunschweig and Taiwan Tech)

- Project description (informal) incl. description of the goals (joint publication, joint research proposal, ...) and list of cited publications

- Contact details of the applicants and the added value of the future project in terms of content as well as the time period of the trip

- Calculation of costs

- CV of the applicants (annex)

The application documents relevant for selection must be submitted by the application deadline 15^th. Nov. 2024. No documents will be requested after the application deadline and no subsequent submissions or amendments will be considered. Incomplete applications will be excluded from the selection process.

Selection procedure

A commission under the leadership of the responsible vice presidents and with the participation of university teachers with proven competence in the field of international affairs, organized by the head of the International Offices of TU Braunschweig, and the Dean of the Office of Research and Development of TAIWAN TECH decide on the funding of the applications.

The approved project budget for each proposal is subject to the assessment results.

All applicants receive a written notification of the selection decision by email.

Legal basis and reporting requirements

The respective applicable guidelines (e.g. Travel Expenses Act) apply to the expenditure of funds.

The PIs of the funded projects must submit a 2 to max. 4 page joint report to the International Offices of TU Braunschweig and Research & Development Office of TAIWAN TECH by 28.02.2026.

Contact

International House TU Braunschweig

Responsible for the program:

Heinrich Schwabecher

h.schwabecher@tu-braunschweig.de

Phone +49 (0) 531 391 4100

Project coordination and contact person for queries:

Dr. Ute Kopka

u.kopka@tu-braunschweig.de

Phone +49 (0) 531 391 14335

Academic Collaborative Center, Office of R&D

Ms. Kao, Kai-Hsin

TEL: +886-2-2733-3141#7546,

E-mail: kcc1031@mail.ntust.edu.tw